Bearing and lock for display racks



Aug. '28, 1951 I... H. BEST 2,565,644

BEARING AND LOCK FOR DISPLAY RACKS Filed Jan. 51, 1946 6 Sheets-Sheet l H W v #12 W -11 itm INVENTOR. Leon [1 Besi E/meet M 4m L. H. BEST BEARING AND LOCK FOR DISPLAY RACKS e Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 51, 1946 IILH ,INVENTOR. Leon 'HBesi J4 Ziofn qys Aug. 28, 1951 L. H. BEST BEARING AND LOCK FOR DISPLAY RACKS Filed Jan. 51, 1946 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 R o m m w.

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fliiomugys Aug. 28,1951 H. BEST 2,565,644

BEARING AND LOCK FOR DISPLAY RACKS Filed Jan. 51, 1946 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 E i E I 619d 6am 53a 36a 36a,

JNVENTOR.

Leon H.Be$

BY 20 M? fliiopne ys 91 I WW Aug. 28, 1951 L. H. BEST 2,565,644

BEARING AND LOCK FOR DISPLAY RACKS Filed Jan. 31, 19.46 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 I Mil/4 :4 itorney Filed Jan. 51, 1946 BEARING AND LOCK FOR DISPLAY RACKS 6 SheetsSheet 6 v INVENTOR. Leon [1.366%

fiiiorneys Patented Aug. 28, 1951 BEARING AND LOOK FOR DISPLAY RACKS Leon H. Best, Galva, Ill., assignor to John H. Best & Sons, Inc., Galva, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application January 31, 1946, Serial No. 644,571

Claims. I

This invention relates to an improved bearing and lock for display racks, and the like, for displaying and handling heavy rolls of sheet material such as broadloom carpet, linoleum, canvas, and the like. a

In displaying material of the type mentioned, itis necessary to provide strong, rigid supports which permit convenient rolling and unrolling and provide for locking against undesired rolling. In display racks of the type for which my in vention is particularly adapted, large bearing units capable of receiving a shaft which may be two inches or larger in diameter carrying loads of several hundred pounds are required. Bearing units must be relatively inexpensive and yet must give excellent performance at low speeds under heavy loads. Also to meet the varying conditions in design of display equipment, bearing support units must be constructed so that they may be mounted in many positions. For the better types of display equipment, a bearing unit is needed which can be substantially hidden from View and yet be locked against rotation when desired without the use of unsightly levers, latches, or other conspicuous locking devices.

To meet the requirements enumerated above, I have invented an improved bearing support containing improved bearing members, per se', tog-ether with an automatic locking means.

It is an object of my invention to provide simple effective bearing supporting elements which may be mounted in various positions depending upon the type of display devices with which they are to be used. It is a further object to provide simple efficient bearing elements which may be installed in bearing supports for easy maintenance and replacement. It is a further object of my invention to provide a bearing support of the type mentioned in combination with automatic locking means which may be readily unlocked to permit desired rotation of a roll of sheet material mounted on a display rack. Further objects of my invention are to provide efficient, inconspicuous bearing means which may be mounted so as not to detract from the appearance of the display equipment and yet be readily accessible and convenient for use.

Additional objects of my invention are to pro vide collapsible bearing elements which may be readily inserted or removed from the bearing supporting means and which will remain in place against accidental or unintentional displacement without any fastening or securing being required.

Other and further objects of the present invention will be apparent from the following description and claims and are illustrated in the accompanying drawings which, by way of illustration, show preferred embodiments of the invention and the principles thereof and what I now consider to be the best mode in which I have contemplated applying these principles. Other embodiments of the invention embodying the same or equivalent principles may be used and structural changes may be made as desired by those skilled in the art without departing from the present invention and the purview of the appended claims.

In the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a perspective View of a display rack of a type in which the bearing and locking means of my invention may be used Fig. 2 is a detail view on a larger scale of certain elements shown in Fig. 1', some parts being in section and parts being broken away to show certain details of my improved bearing and locking means;

Fig. 3 is a detail sectional view taken on line 3--3, Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a detail sectional view on a still larger scale showing certain details of construction of my bearing and locking means and taken along the line 4-4, Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a detail elevation of m improved bearing element, per se Fig. 6 is an end view of the bearing element shown in Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a plan view of the same bearing element;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary detail view similar to the left-hand part of Fig. 4 showing additional construction details of my improved locking mechanism;

Fig. 9 is a vertical section on line 9-9, Fig. 8, showing details of construction of certain elements of my improved locking means";

' Fig. '10 is a fragmentary sectional vie-w on line Ill-4'0,- Fig. 8, showing certain details. of the bearing and locking means;

Fig. 11 is a perspective view of another type of display rack incorporating a modified form of my invention Fig. 12 is an enlarged sectional view showing in detail one of the brackets illustrated in Fig. 11;

Fig. 13 is an endelevation of the bearing unit shown in Fig. 12, certain parts being broken away and shown in section to illustrate details of construction; V

Fig. 14: is a view generally similar to Fig;- 13

showing a modified form of bearing supporting means;

Fig. 15 is a sectional View taken on the line |5-'|5 of Fig.14;

Fig. 16 is a perspective view of still another form of display rack incorporating another modified form of my invention;

Fig. 17 is a detail sectional view of one of the bearing units shown in Fig. 16;

Fig. 18 is a sectional View taken on the line |8-|B, Fig. 17;

Fig. 19 is a view similar to Fig. 1'7 showing the bearing unit tilted at an angle'to illustrate how it may be mounted in various positions.

Taken generally, the drawings show a bearing support member or housing which is adapted to be mounted in various ways on various types of supports and to receive in appropriate bearing position a roller bearing assembly which serves to reduce friction under heavy loads and yet which is simple in operation and assembly. The various units shown in Figs. 1 to 13 incorporate automatic locking means. The modifications shown in Figs. 14 to 19 employ conventional looking means and are adapted for use where style and appearance are of secondary importance.

Referring now to Fig. 1, a display rack is shown which may comprise a frame with end members l2, a top member l3 and a bottom member I4. or linoleum, for example, may be mounted upon hollow supporting shafts shown at |5, Hi, and I1. These shafts which are commonly lengths of ordinary pipe or similar material are adapted to have their ends mounted in bearing members to support them and to permit free and relatively frictionless rotation in rolling or unrolling operations.

The end frame member II is provided with openings I8, I9 and 2| and the other end frame member I2 is provided with openings 22, 23' and 24'. The inner portions of these openings are large enough to receive the ends of the tubular supporting shafts l5, l6 and IT. The outer portions of the openings are smaller so as to conceal the bearing assemblies, affording access to rotating and locking means by the insertion of the shank 23 of a crank member 24. As shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the crank member 24 may be provided with two handles 25.

Referring now to Fig. 2, bearing brackets or mounting means 21, 29 which are identical are mounted in the end members H and I2. As shown in Fig. 3, the end members II and I2 may comprise two spaced walls 28' and 29 to which bearing brackets 21 may be fastened, for example, to the inner wall 29 by means of bolts 30.

Fig. 4 shows an enlarged section of a complete shaft assembly including the two end bearing assemblies and locking means. As illustrated in this figure, the bearing housing or bracket 2'! is a hollow hub-like structure which may be of cast iron provided with lugs 3| through which the bolts 39 are passed to secure the housing to the frame. The inner wall 32 of the housing 21 is provided with a large opening 33, a similar opening 34 being provided in the wall member 29 to receive the end of a supporting tube or shaft l5. Outwardly of the wall 32, the circumferential wall of the housing is expanded to form an annular recess 35 which is adapted to receive a roller bearing assembly 36.

The roller bearing assembly 36, as shown in detail in Figs. 5, 6 and '7, comprises a pair of The rolls of sheet material, broadloom rugs arcuate side plates 31 and 38 which are connected together near one end of each by means of a pin 39 which mounts a bearing roller 4|. Another pair of arcuate plates 42 and 43, generally similar to the plates 31 and 38, are connected together in a similar fashion by means of a pin 44 mounting a bearing roller 45. At their other ends plates 31, 38, and plates 42, 43 are hinged together as shown in Fig. 5 by means of a pin 46. The ends of plates 42 and 43 are offset inwardly to fit between the ends of plates 31 and 38. A spacing sleeve 49 is mounted on the hinge pin 46 between the offset ends 41 and 48 to keep the plates 42 and 43 properly spaced and in contact with the outer plates 31 and 3B.

The annular recess 35 in the bearing bracket 3'! is of the proper width and depth to receive the hinged bearing assembly 36 and to permit the anti-friction rollers 4| and 45 to project above surrounding surfaces so as to support the ends of the tubular shaft |5. In the expanded position shown in full lines in Fig. 5, the bearing assembly is too long to be inserted in the annular recess provided in the bracket or housing 21. The hinge construction permits folding the two sections to the dotted line position shown in Fig. 5 to permit ready insertion into bearing position. After the bearing is inserted, the ends are returned to full line position where they are ready to support the shaft l5 with its load.

The construction described permits ready insertion and removal of the bearing assembly and at the same time prevents accidental displacement of the bearings from their proper positions upon insertion or removal of the supporting shaft l5.

The bearing housings and the roller bearing assemblies just described are identical in construction for both ends of the tubular shaft. Outwardly of the annular recess 35 the bearing housings 21 are provided with a recess 53 which is generally of cylindrical form to afford limited axial movement of the shaft l5 to facilitate its insertion or removal. As shown in Fig. 4, both ends of the tubular shaft are provided with flanges 5| and 5|a to prevent undesired longitudinal displacement out of the bearing position.

One end of the hollow supporting shaft I5 is provided with an inserted member which, in addition to the projecting flange 5| mentioned above, includes a housing 54, integral with the flange part, containing certain automatic locking mechanism now to be described. The housing 54 is of hollow cylindrical form having two longitudinal grooves 56 in its outer surface which extend inwardly from the flanges 5| for a distance. The grooves 56 terminate in sloping surfaces 51 against which set screws 58 in the tubular shaft l5 may set to lock the tube to the housing.

Through the greater part of its length, the housing 54 is provided with a cylindrical recess 59 terminating in an end wall 6|. A sliding plunger 62 is provided with an annular flange 63 which is adapted to limit axial movement of the plunger by abutment against the end wall 6|. A stud 64 is fixed to a cap member 65 which is secured by screws 66 to the housing assembly, as shown in Fig. 9. A compressed spring 6'! surrounds the fixed stud 64 and a similar part on the plunger 62 to urge the sliding member outwardly or to the left, as shown in Figs. 4 and 8. Movement to the left is, of course, limited by contact between the annular flange 63 and the wall 6|.

To the left of the flange 63, as shown in Figs. 4 and 8, the sliding plunger 62 carries a projecting stud 620, which is provided with an annular groove 62b. A sleeve 68 is secured to the stud 62a by indenting portions thereof into the annular grooves 62b. The sleeve 58 is of hollow square cross section. When it is projected outwardly or to the left, Fig. 8, the sleeve 68 engages a square hole 69 provided in the outer wall of the housing 21. This engagement locks the sleeve, the housing 54 and the tubular shaft I5 against rotation. Since the sleeve 68 has an inner cross section which is square, it receives the square shank portion H of the crank stud 23 mentioned above. Hence, when the crank 24 is forced inwardly against the tension of the spring 61 the square sleeve 68 is removed from looking engagement with the hole 69 in the housing 21. Hence, the supporting shaft I5 carrying the roll of material may be rotated by turning the crank 24 to wind or unwind as desired. Release of the crank 24 permits the spring 6'! to lock the shaft against rotation by projecting the sleeve 68 into opening 69. The stud 23 of the crank member 24 has a cylindrical surface 12 machined thereon so as to permit free rotation within the square hole 59 when the crank is fully inserted against the force of the spring 57. To withdraw the crank 24 it must be turned until the flat surfaces on the square portion thereof are substantially in alignment with the sides of the square hole 69. This operation obviously places the sleeve 68 in substantial alignment with the same hole so that looking takes place immediately upon withdrawal of the crank.

Fig. 8 shows the parts in looking position, the inner portion of the opening 69 and the outer end of the tubular sleeve 68 being beveled slightly to facilitate the locking operation. In the position shown in Fig. 4, the locking means obviously are inoperative.

Openings 13 are provided in the outer frame members of the display device to provide access of the crank stud to the locking means just described. An ornamental ferrule 74 may be provided to guard the end member II against marring by repeated insertions of the crank. The right-hand members I2 of the frame are also provided with similar openings 69a, 16a, and 13a and with a ferrule Ma corresponding to the elements in the left-hand member. The roll can be turned by a crank inserted at either end provided the locking means is rendered inoperative.

Figs. 11 to 13 show a different type of display rack with a modified bearing and locking assembly. Internally the housing-of each of the bear ing assemblies is of the same structure as that described above. The brackets or housings 21a, 21b and 210, Fig. 11, are all of identical construction. Each comprises a housing member having a large opening 33a in its inner wall 32a, an annular recess 35a which is adapted to receive a bearing assembly 36a, and a smaller cylindrical recess 53a outwardly of the annular recess to receive the end flanges 5Ia of a tubular supporting shaft, such as I5a. As in the case of the housing 21, the outer wall is provided with a square opening 69a adapted to receive a locking sleeve 68a, the parts being generally identical with the elements described above.

Each of the housings 21a, 21b, and 210 is provided with a flat base which is adapted to rest firmly on, against or under supporting members such as the horizontal beam 8I, the vertical frame member 82, or the horizontal support member 83. As best shown in Fig. 13, the base may be cut away at 84, and 85. Web portions 81 and 88 are provided to present smooth and firm supporting surfaces. Threaded openings 89 are provided in said web portions to receive bolts 5| which secure the housing to a suitable support BI, 82, or 83, Fig. 11, or 92, Fig. 13.

The recess 35a, Fig. 13, like the recess 35, previously described, is completely annular so that a continuous seat is provided for the hinged roller bearing assembly 36 or 33a no matter in what position the bracket is mounted. Whether the supporting surface is horizontal, vertical, or on the bottom side of a supporting frame member', the bearing assembly may be inserted at the bottom of the recess 35a so as to properly support the shaft I 5 or [5a. The same locking means may be used as described above in connection with Figs. 1 to 10.

Figs. 14 and 15 show a modified form of hear ing and locking assembly which dOes not incorporate automatic locking means. As shown, the bearing bracket or housing is semi-circular in shape and open at the top. The base is similar to the base of the housing shown in Fig. 13 for mounting upon a suitable support. An annular channel I93 is provided to receive a bearing assembly 36 identical with the assembly described above. This channel terminates near the upper ends lill, I52 of the semi-circular housing or bracket. The channel is of such length, however, that the bearing may be mounted in various angular positions and still permit the roller bearings to be properly positioned under the supporting shaft I5.

A conventional locking latch I64, Fig. 14, is pivoted to one side of the housing, as shown at I05. This latch includes a slot I 85 which may be dropped over the end of a pin I0? which extends through the tubular shaft I5 and projects therefrom a suitable distance.

Fig. 16 shows another modified form of my invention wherein bearing units of the general type shown in Fig. 14 are adapted for mounting on vertical or approximately vertical supporting members. As shown in Fig. 16, a display device may comprise end wall members III and I I: to which a number of open type bearing support members II3 are secured. Rolls I54 of linoleum, broadloom carpet, or other heavy sheet material, are supported on shafts I I5 which may be identical with or similar to the shafts I5 previously described. The supporting shafts II5 are preferably provided with flanges I It to guard against unintentional axial displacement. The end members of the supporting shafts I I5 are preferably provided with square recesses III to facilitate rotation with a crank or other suitable instrument, not shown.

As shown in Figs. 17 and 18, each of the bearing support members II3 comprises supporting elements provided with smooth vertical surfaces I2I and I22 adapted for fitting firmly against a vertical frame member, or the like. Threaded openings I23 are provided in the supporting e1ements to receive bolts E24 which secure the bearing units to the frame of the display rack. The brackets II3 are of the open type having a semicircular opening I25 provided with a recess IEE adapted to receive a hinged bearing assembly 35 identical with that described above. A latching means similar to that shown in dotted lines in.

Fig. 14, of conventional construction, may be attached by a suitablepin inserted through the opening I29 in the bracket member.

The recess which receives the bearing assembly 36 is of somewhat greater length than the bearing assembly. As shown in Fig. 19, the bearing bracket may be tilted as much as 25 and still provide proper fitting for the bearings to support heavy rolls of material being displayed. The open type bearing bracket, whether of the vertical type shown in Fig. 1'7 or the horizontal base type shown in Fig. 14, is therefore capable of being mounted in various positions and therefore is not limited to mounting on horizontal or vertical frame members.

Although I have described several embodiments of my invention and the best means I have contemplated of applying the principles thereof, it will be apparent that other modifications might be made and that various changes might be incorporated. I therefore do not wish to be limited to the precise details set forth above, but I desire to avail myself of all such changes and alterations as may follow within the purview of the following claims.

I claim:

1. In a display rack for relatively heavy flexible sheet material such as rugs or linoleum, an elongated shaft upon which such a sheet of material may be wound, aligned bearing brackets into which opposite ends of said shaft respectively extend so as to be rotatably supported therein, one of said brackets having an end wall disposed opposite the end of the shaft that is supported in said bracket and said wall having a non-circular locking opening formed therein symmetrically with respect to the axis of the shaft, a locking and actuating plunger having a locking end portion thereof formed externally so as to be complemental to said locking opening and mounted in said shaft for axial movement from an extended locking position wherein said locking portion extends into said locking opening to a released position wherein said locking portion is withdrawn from said locking opening,

spring means urging said locking plunger to said locking position, said plunger being rotatively interlocked with said shaft and having a noncircular actuating socket of relatively shallow depth formed in said end portion thereof for engagement by an operating tool to shift said plunger to its released position and to impart rotative movement through said plunger to said shaft while said locking plunger is released.

2. In a display rack for relatively heavy flexible sheet material such as rugs or linoleum, an elongated shaft upon which such a sheet of material may be wound, aligned bearing brackets into which opposite ends of said shaft respectively extend so as to be rotatably supported therein, one of said brackets having an end wall disposed opposite the end of the shaft that is supported in said bracket and said wall having a non-circular locking opening formed therein symmetrically with respect to the aXis of the shaft, a locking and actuating plunger having a locking end portion thereof formed externally so as to be complemental to said locking opening and mounted in said shaft for axial movement from an extended locking position wherein said locking portion extends into said locking opening to 2. released position wherein said locking portion is withdrawn from said locking opening, spring means urging said plunger to said locking position, said shaft having a non-circular bearing portion in which said locking portion of said plunger is slidably disposed so as to interlock said plunger rotatively with said shaft, said plunger having a non-circular actuating socket of relatively shallow depth formed in said end portion thereof for engagement by an operating tool to shift said plunger to its released position and to impart rotative movement through said plunger to said shaft.

3. In an apparatus for displaying relatively heavy flexible sheet material such as rugs or lin0- leum, an elongated shaft upon which such a sheet of material may be wound, a locking and actuating plunger having a locking end portion formed so as to be non-circular in cross sectional form and said plunger being mounted in said shaft for axial movement from an extended locking position wherein said locking portion extends substantially beyond the end of said shaft to a released position wherein said locking portion is disposed within said shaft, spring means urging said plunger to said locking position, said plunger being rotatively interlocked with said shaft, and having a non-circular actuating socket of relatively shallow depth formed in said end portion thereof for engagement by an operating tool to shift said plunger to its released position and to impart rotative movement through said plunger to said shaft, a bracket in which said end of said shaft is rotatively supported, and means on said bracket affording a complemental locking opening into which said plunger extends when said plunger is in'said locking position.

4. In an apparatus for displaying relatively heavy flexible sheet material such as rugs or linoleum, an elongated shaft upon which such a sheet of material may be wound, a locking and actuating plunger having a locking end portion formed so as to be non-circular in cross sectional form and said plunger being mounted in said shaft for axial movement from an extended locking position wherein said locking portion extends substantially beyond the end of said shaft to a released position wherein said locking portion is disposed within said shaft, spring means urging said plunger to said locking position, bearing means on said shaft affording surfaces complemental to said locking portion and engaged therewith to rotatively interlock said plunger and said shaft, said plunger having a non-circular actuating socket of relatively shallow depth formed in said end portion thereof for engagement by an operating tool to shift said plunger to its released position and to impart rotative movement through said plunger to said shaft, a bracket in which said end of said shaft is rotatively supported, and means on said bracket affording a complemental locking opening into which said plunger extends when said plunger is in said locking position.

5. In a bearing unit for use in display racks for rugs, linoleum and the like, a housing having an end wall and an annular side wall, said side wall having an annular inwardly facing channel formed therein to receive and retain a bearing means, one of said walls having lugs formed thereon for securing said housing on a support, and said end wall having a non-circular locking opening formed therethrough in a symmetrical relation with respect to the axis of said annular channel. 1

LEON H. BEST.

(References on following page) REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

Number UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Dancyger Mar. 6, 1888 Greenspan Feb. 20, 1900 Blakeley May 6, 1902 Adkins May 17, 1910 10 Lockwood July 12, 1910 Capers May 9, 1911 Number Number Name Date Briscoe Sept. 12, 19 6 Carroll Apr. 8, 1919 Neighbour May 4, 1920 Holleman Aug. 15, 1933 Dubus Aug. 6, 1935 Moussette July 13, 1937 Rurissow Feb. 22, 1944 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Great Britain Aug. 16, 1923 

